Written Answers Friday 7 April 2006

Scottish Executive

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency measures will be put in place in the event of an individual bus operator who is the only provider of bus services to an isolated community being subject to capping measures under the new concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: The levels of reimbursement for the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled persons have been set to ensure that bus operators are financially no better and no worse off as a result of their participation in the scheme and takes account of revenue forgone and the costs of providing additional capacity. The provision of £159 million in 2006-07 and £163 million for the national scheme in 2007-08 is a significant increase on the estimated £102 million cost of local bus concessions in 2004-05. In addition, local transport authorities have the resources and powers to identify and provide socially necessary bus services which would not be viable without subsidy.

Road Accidents

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) road traffic accidents and (b) fatalities and serious injuries there were on the A726 in each of the last 10 years.

Tavish Scott: The number of injury accidents, fatalities and serious injuries on the A726 trunk road between Carmunnock Bypass Roundabout and Birniehill Roundabout in each of the last 10 years is in the following table:

  

Year
Injury Accidents
Fatal Casualties
Serious Casualties


Dec 95 – Nov 96
11
0
3


Dec 96 – Nov 97
13
0
2


Dec 97 – Nov 98
14
0
3


Dec 98 – Nov 99
11
0
4


Dec 99 – Nov 00
20
0
0


Dec 00 – Nov 01
7
0
1


Dec 01 – Nov 02
18
0
2


Dec 02 – Nov 03
13
1
1


Dec 03 – Nov 04
11
0
2


Dec 04 – Nov 05
19
0
2



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the construction of the new A8000 to M9 link road will be funded.

Tavish Scott: Funding of the route upgrade is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority in the first instance. However, we are committed to underwriting the costs of the upgrade of the A8000-M9 Spur, to a maximum of £24 million over three years.